Self-powered water vehicle with rearwardly displaced operator{40 s sled

ABSTRACT

A water vehicle including a forward self-powered water planing section and a rear occupant supporting section. A pair of elongated side-by-side support arms extend rearwardly from the front section and the rear section is supported between the rear ends of the arms. The front section is powered by a steerable outboard motor with remote controls provided therefor on the rear section and includes water ski means for planing over the surface of a body of water at high speed with little water resistance. However, the forward or front section includes buoyant means elevated above the planing surfaces of the water ski means whereby the front section may be floated while at rest and the rear section additionally includes water ski means for planing over the surface of a body of water at high speed with little water resistance and the water ski means of the rear section is mounted for oxcillation about an upstanding axis. Also, the rear section additionally includes buoyant means disposed at an elevation above the undersurface portions of the rear water ski means for floating the rear section when at rest.

United States Patent [191' Welsh [111 3,710,750 1 Jan. 16,1973

541 SELF-POWERED WATER VEHICLE WITH REARWARDLY DISPLACED OPERATORlS SLED [76] Inventor: Aaron L. Welsh, 116 Smith Place,

Warner Robins, Ga. 31093 [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 [21] Appl..No.: 74,697

[52] US. Cl ..115/70 [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 35/00 [58] Field Of Search 14/665 R, 235 WS,115/70; 9/1 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,350 6/1942 Drake ..115/7O 3,522,785 8/1970 Thompson ....115/70 1,825,363 9/1931 RObCl'tSOl't ..114/66.5 R

Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A water vehicle including a forward self-powered water planing section and a rear occupant supporting section. A pair of elongated side-by-side support arms extend rearwardly from the front section and the rear section is supported between the rear ends of the arms. The front section is powered by asteerable outboard motor with remote controls provided therefor on the rear section and includes water ski means for planing over the surface of a body of water at high speed with little water resistance. However, the forward or front section includes buoyant means elevated above the planing surfaces of the water ski means whereby the front section may be floated while at rest and the rear section additionally includes water ski means for planing over the surface of a body ofwater at high speed with little water resistance and the water 1 ski means of the rear section is mounted for oxcillation about an upstanding axis. Also, the rear section additionally includes buoyant means disposed at an elevation above the undersurface portions of the rear water ski means for floating the rear section when at rest.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJM 16 I973 SHEET 1 BF 3 Aaron 1. Welsh l.\'l 'ENTOR PATENTEUJAN 16 I975 SHEET 2 UF 3 Fig. /0

Fig.9

Aaron L Welsh INVENTOR.

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SELF-POWERED WATER VEHICLE WITH REARWARDLY DISPLACED OPERATOR'S SLED over the surface of a body of water with only a relatively low powered outboard motor as its propelling force.

The vehicle includes front and rear spaced sections each provided with is own water ski means and flotation means spaced at an elevation above the water ski means and the propelling outboard motor is supported from the front section in a conventional manner with remote controls provided therefor on the rear section for steering the outboard motor and controllably actuating its throttle and shift controls. Also, the water ski means of the rear section are mounted for oscillation about an upstanding axis.

The flotation means carried by the front and rear sections comprises three large inflatable annular members such as truck inner tubes, although other flotation members may be utilized if desired. Further, the front section is connected to the rear section by means of a pair of elongated side-by-side support arms extending and connected between the front and rear sections and the front section includes means whereby a wheeled axle assembly may be removably supported therefrom while the rear section includes a socket hitch assembly for removable connection to the ball hitch of a towing vehicle thereby enabling the water vehicle to be towed in reverse behind a towing vehicle.

The main object of this invention is to provide a selfpowered water vehicle which will be capable of traveling over the surface of a body of water at high speeds with a minimum of water resistance.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a selfpowcred water vehicle of the type that may be readily controlled in a novel manner so as to give the occupant.

or occupants thereof a pleasing and unusual enjoyable experience. 7

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a self-powered water vehicle that may be readily towed behind a towing vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water vehicle in accordance with the preceding objects that may be readily'constructed at a minimum of cost and that may utilize a relatively low powered conventional outboard motor as its motive source.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a self-powered water vehicle including an occupant station simulating the occupant position of the rider of a bicycle and which will therefore be at least somewhat familiar to substantially all persons utilizing the water vehicle for the first time.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a self-powered water vehicle in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and amusing to use so as to provide to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the water vehicle of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is atop plan view of the water vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane-indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear occupant supporting section of the vehicle with its buoyancy means and water ski means removed;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the removable axle assembly which may be utilized in conjunction with the water vehicle in order to adapt the latter for towing in reverse behind a towing vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of the forward section of the water vehicle with the removable axle assembly attached;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of rear occupant supporting section of the water vehicle; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the steerable water ski section of the modified form of rear occupant supporting section illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the

numeral 10 generally designates the self-powered water vehicle of the instant invention. The water vehicle 10 includes a front section referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and a rear section referred to in general by the reference numeral 14.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the front section includes a pair of opposite side frames 16 including longitudinally extending upper and lower members 18 and 20..The forward ends of the upper members l8'curve downwardly and the forward ends of the lower members 20 curve upwardly and are joined with the downwardly curving front ends of the upper members 18 as at 22. Further, the rear ends of the upper members 8 define rearward extensions or support arms 24 which project considerably behind the front section 12 and are joined at their rear ends by means of an integral curved forwardly opening bight portion 26, see FIG. 6. Also, as may be seen from FIG. 2, the extensions or support arms 24 are rearwardly convergent toward the rear section 14 and then terminate in substantially parallel rear end portions 24' defining the opposite side frame members of the rear section 14 and join together at their rear ends by means of the bight portion 26.

The upper members 18 are interconnected by mean of horizontal front and rear transversely. extending brace members 28 and 30 and the brace member 30includes a depending panel portion 32 to which the conventional 'clamp mounting bracket 34 of an outboard motor referred to in general by the reference numeral 36 is clampingly secured. Of course, the outboard motor includes a support assembly 38 which is oscillatably supported from the clamp mounting bracket 34 as at 40 for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis and the outboard motor drive shaft leg housing 42 is oscillatably supported from the support assembly 38 for oscillation about an upstanding axis.

The outboard motor 36 further includes a throttle control 44 and a shift control 46. In addition, a clamp assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 48, see FIG. 5, is clamped about the upper portion of the housing 42 and includes a pair of opposite side steering arm portions to be more fully described hereinafter.

The upper and lower members 18 and 20 of each frame section 12 are also interconnected by front, intermediate and rear upstanding braces 52, 54 and 56, respectively, removably secured to the upper and lower members 18 and 20. The rear brace members 56 are arcuate and open rearwardly and a pair of large truck inner tubes 58 encircle each set of brace members 52, 54 and 56 at an elevation spaced above the corresponding lower member 20 and the inner tubes 58 comprise buoyancy members whereby the front section 12 may be floated while at rest.

The front brace member 28 supports a fuel tank 60 for the outboard motor 36 and a fuel line 62 extends between the bottom of the tank 60 and the outboard motor 36. In addition, each of the lower members 20 is provided with an elongated generally conventional ski member 64 secured thereto by means of clamps 66 and r the forward end of each lower member 20 includes an apertured upstanding mounting ear 68.

The clamp assembly 48 includes a horizontal transverse bar 70 whose opposite ends define the steering arm portions 50 and which has a horizontal J-shaped clamp member 72 secured thereto as at 74. An adjustable length fastener 76 is secured between the bar 70 and the free end of the short leg of the J-shaped clamp member 72 and may thus be utilized to clampingly secure the clamp member 72 about the housing 42 of .the outboard motor 36.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 of the drawings, it may be seen that front and rear horizontal braces 80 and 82 are secured between the front and rear ends of the rear generally parallel sections of the extensions or support arms 24. In addition, the intermediate portions of the portions 24' include aligned transverse journals 84 from which the opposite ends of a horizontal transverse support shaft 86 are journaled. The shaft 86 has the lower end portion of an upstanding sleeve 88 secured thereto for oscillation therewith and an upstanding steering shaft 90 is journaled through the sleeve 88 and has a transverse handle bar 92 carried by its upper end. In addition, the lower end of the support shaft or steering shaft 90 has an enlarged mounting plate 94 secured thereto.

The rear transverse brace 82 has the lower end of an upstanding pedestal 96 secured thereto and the upper end of the pedestal 96 supports a seat 98. Further, a pair of opposite side upwardly and rearwardly curving spring'bars 100 have their lower forward ends secured to the front transverse brace 80 of the rear section 14 and the rear ends of the spring bars 100 are secured to opposite sides of the upper end of the pedestal 96 by means of fasteners 102. The upper end of the sleeve 88 is received between the spring bars 100 and those por- I tion: of the spring bars between which the sleeve 88 is disposed are provided with Opposing longitudinally spaced serrations 104 which frictionally engage the opposite side portions of the upper end of the'slecve 88 so as to frictionally retain the latter in adjusted oscillated position. Further, a stop assembly 106 is supported between the forward ends of the spring bars 100 slightly above the latter by means of a spring arm 108 whose base end is secured between the bars 100 and the stop 106 may be urged forwardly upon contact of the upper end of the sleeve 88 therewith. The stop 106 is engageable with a forwardly displaeeable actuator 110 of a normally closed switch 112 also supported between the forward ends of the spring arms or bars 100 whereby a circuit in which the switch 112 is disposed may be opened upon forward swinging movement of the upper end of the sleeve 88 so as to cause its engagement with the stop 106 and the engagement'of the stop 106 with the switch actuator 110 to depress the latter.

The forward transverse brace 80 additionally includes an upstanding spindle 114 upon which the center portion of a cross steering arm 116 is mounted for oscillation about an upstanding axis. The opposite ends of the steering arm 116 include foot pedals 118 and are connected to the free ends of the steering arm portions 50 by means of a pair of crossed tensioned cables 120 secured between the free ends of the steering arm 116 and the free ends of the steering arm portions 50.

The front and rear braces 80 and 82 include pairs of depending J-shaped cradle members 122 from which a large truck inner tube 124 is removably supported and a flooring panel 126 is secured over the front and rear braces 80 and 82 in any convenient manner and provided with openings 128, 130 and 132 upwardly through which the pedestal 96, the sleeve 88 and the spindle 1 14, respectively, project; Further, the rear end of the flooring panel 126 includes a conventional socket hitch element 134 for releasable'attachme'nt to the ball hitch element of a towing vehicle.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 7 of the drawings there may be seen an axle assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 136. The axle assembly 136 includes a first tubular end portion 138 and a second rod end portion 140. The rod end portion 140 is telescoped within the tubular end portion 138 and secured in adjusted telescoped position by means of a through fastener 142. Further, the opposite ends of the end portions 138 and 140 include journaled support wheels 146.

When it is desired to mount the axleassembly on the front section 12, the rod end portion 140 is withdrawn from within the tubular end portion 138 and the ends of the portions 138 and 140 remote from the wheels 146 are then threaded through the apertured mounting ears 68 and thereafter telescoped together. In this manner, the axle assembly 136 may be utilized to rollingly support the front end of the front section 12 from the ground while the rear end of the rear section 14 is coupled to and supported from a towing vehicle thus enabling the water vehicle 10 to be towed rearwardly behind a towing vehicle.

The switch 112 is of course connected in series within the ignition system for the outboard motor 36. Further, a lever actuated dead man type Bowdan cable assembly 150 has its lever actuated end thereof supported from the handle bar 92 and its remote end operatively connected to the throttle control 44. Further, a control shaft 152 is journaled from the right hand portion 24 and extends longitudinally along the latter. The rear end of the control shaft includes a cross foot pedal assembly 154 and the front end of the control shaft 152 includes a crank arm 156 whose free end is operatively connected to a second Bowdan cable assembly 158 at one end. The other end of the second Bowdan cable assembly 158 is operatively connected to the steering control 46 of the outboard motor 36.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawings it may be seen that the rear section 14 includes a rear ski member 160 whose rear end has the rear end of a horizontal longitudinally extending leaf spring 162 secured thereto. The front end of the ski member 160 includes a vertically elongated horizontally opening tubular guide 164 and the front end of the leaf spring 162 is received through the guide 164 for limited vertical movement therein. The intermediate portion of the leaf spring 162 is secured in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 166 to the mounting plate 94 carried by the lower end of the steering shaft 90. Also, the rear end portion of the ski member 160 includes a depending skeg 168.

In operation, the front and rear sections 12 and 14 may be floated when the vehicle is at rest by means of the inner tubes 58 and 124. Then, with an occupant disposed on the rear section 14, the motor 36 may be started and the foot control pedal assembly 154 may be actuated so as to place the outboard motor 36 in the v the rear ski member 160. When it is desired to tow the vehicle 10 behind a towing vehicle, the axle assembly 136 is mounted in the previously described manner after the outboard motor 36 has been removed or swung upward to a retracted position. Then, the socket hitch element 134 carried by the rear end of the rear section 14 may be operatively coupled to a ball hitch element ofa towing vehicle.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, there may be seen a modified form of rear section referred to in general by the reference numeral 14' and whichincludes an at least semi-rigid buoyant body 124' in lieu of the inner tube 124. In addition, the buoyant body 124' includes an abbreviated stationary ski member 126 and the lower end of a steering shaft 90' corresponding to the steering shaft 90 is provided with a rudder member 92 including a horizontal planing member 94 which functions as a second abbreviated ski member. The central portion of the horizontal member 94 is centrally apertured as at 96 and bifurcated lower end of the steering shaft 90 is received downwardly through the aperture 96 and has its opposite side furcations secured to opposite side portions of the rudder member 92 received therebetween by means of suitable fasteners 98'. Also, the rear section 14 includes a handle bar corresponding to the handle bar 92 as well as a steering arm 116 corresponding to the steering arm 116.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a water vehicle including separate front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected for movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween and securing said sections together against relative angular displacement, said front section including marine propulsion means and said rear section including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said rear section, said rear section further including occupant support means for supporting an operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said means, said marine propulsion means including steering means, said control means also including a control operable from said rear section for adjustably actuating said steering means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said front and rear sections include downwardly facing water planing surfaces upon which said sections are operable to plane while moving at speed over the surface of a body of water, said sections also including buoyant means spaced above said planing surfaces by which said sections are rendered buoyant on water while at rest.

3. The combination of claim 1 including supporting wheeled axle means removably supported from a first of said sections and means carried by the end of the second section remote from the firstsection for operative swivel connectionwith a towing vehicle.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said marine propulsion means comprises an outboard motor swivelly supported from said front section for oscillation about an upstanding axis, said steering actuating control being operatively connected to said motor for selectively oscillating the later. i

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said motor includes throttle and gear shift controls, and control means operatively connected between said throttle and shift controls and actuatable from said rear section.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rear section includes lower water ski means by, which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed:

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said water ski meansis supported from said rear section for oscillation about an upstanding axis.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said buoyant means comprise inflated inner tubes.

9. The combination of claim 8 including means removably supporting said inner tubes from 'said sections.

10 The combination of claim 1 wherein said front section includes laterally spaced from to rear extending elongated water ski means defining laterally spaced downwardly facing water planing surfaces, said propulsion means comprising an outboard motor mounted on said front section between said water ski means.

11. The combination of claim 10 including buoyant means carried by said front section above said water ski means by which said front section is rendered buoyant on water while at rest. v

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said outboard motor is supported from said front section for oscillation about an upstanding axis, said control means including steering controls carried by said rear section and operatively connected to said motor for selectively oscillating the latter.

13. In combination, a water vehicle including front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected together for'movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween, one of said sections including marine propulsion means and the other of said sections including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said other section, said other section further including occupant support means for supporting an operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said control means, said other section including lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of abody of water at speed, said water ski means being supported for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis disposed thereabove, and which therefore has a tendency to be swung rearwardly, by

tuator and open said switch and thus said circuit.

14 The combination of claim 13 wherein said other section includes lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed, said water ski means being supported from said other section for oscillation about an upstanding axis.

15. In combination, a water vehicle including front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected together for movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween, one of said sections including marine propulsion means and the other of said sections including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said other section, said other section further including occupant, support means for supporting and operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said control means, said rear section including front lower and rear upper water ski means, said front lower ski means being supported from said rear section for oscillation about an upstanding axis and including depending skeg means supported for oscillation with said front ski means. v

16. In combination, a water vehicle including front the surface of a body of water at speed, said water ski means being spring supported from said other section for limited vertical shifting relative thereto and biased downwardly toward its lowermost position.

t a a a al 

1. In combination, a water vehicle including separate front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected for movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween and securing said sections together against relative angular displacement, said front section including marine propulsion means and said rear section including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said rear section, said rear section further including occupant support means for supporting an operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said means, said marine propulsion means including steering means, said control means also including a control operable from said rear section for adjustably actuating said steering means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said front and rear sections include downwardly facing water planing surfaces upon which said sections are operable to plane while moving at speed over the surface of a body of water, said sections also including buoyant means spaced above said planing surfaces bY which said sections are rendered buoyant on water while at rest.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including supporting wheeled axle means removably supported from a first of said sections and means carried by the end of the second section remote from the first section for operative swivel connection with a towing vehicle.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said marine propulsion means comprises an outboard motor swivelly supported from said front section for oscillation about an upstanding axis, said steering actuating control being operatively connected to said motor for selectively oscillating the later.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said motor includes throttle and gear shift controls, and control means operatively connected between said throttle and shift controls and actuatable from said rear section.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rear section includes lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said water ski means is supported from said rear section for oscillation about an upstanding axis.
 8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said buoyant means comprise inflated inner tubes.
 9. The combination of claim 8 including means removably supporting said inner tubes from said sections. 10 The combination of claim 1 wherein said front section includes laterally spaced front to rear extending elongated water ski means defining laterally spaced downwardly facing water planing surfaces, said propulsion means comprising an outboard motor mounted on said front section between said water ski means.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including buoyant means carried by said front section above said water ski means by which said front section is rendered buoyant on water while at rest.
 12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said outboard motor is supported from said front section for oscillation about an upstanding axis, said control means including steering controls carried by said rear section and operatively connected to said motor for selectively oscillating the latter.
 13. In combination, a water vehicle including front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected together for movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween, one of said sections including marine propulsion means and the other of said sections including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said other section, said other section further including occupant support means for supporting an operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said control means, said other section including lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed, said water ski means being supported for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis disposed thereabove, and which therefore has a tendency to be swung rearwardly, by water friction acting thereon, relative to the direction of movement of said vehicle, operator controlled means operatively connected to said ski means for manually swinging said ski means forwardly from a rearwardly displaced position thereof, said motor including an ignition circuit, a normally closed switch serially disposed in said circuit and including an actuator for opening the switch, said water ski means, when swung rearwardly toward said rearwardly displaced position including means operative to actuate said actuator and open said switch and thus said circuit.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said other section includes lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed, said water ski means being supported from said other section for oscillation about an upstanding axis.
 15. In combination, a water vehicle including front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected together for mOvement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween, one of said sections including marine propulsion means and the other of said sections including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said other section, said other section further including occupant support means for supporting and operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said control means, said rear section including front lower and rear upper water ski means, said front lower ski means being supported from said rear section for oscillation about an upstanding axis and including depending skeg means supported for oscillation with said front ski means.
 16. In combination, a water vehicle including front and rear spaced apart water planing sections connected together for movement in train fashion by elongated connecting means extending and connected therebetween, one of said sections including marine propulsion means and the other of said sections including control means operatively connected to the propulsion means for controlling the speed of operation thereof from said other section, said other section further including occupant support means for supporting an operator occupant of said vehicle adjacent said control means, said other section including lower water ski means by which the lower section may plane over the surface of a body of water at speed, said water ski means being spring supported from said other section for limited vertical shifting relative thereto and biased downwardly toward its lowermost position. 